Peeping Sheep + Dental Work

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While I have been processing more raw fleece (slowly), spinning some yarn, and teaching private weaving classes, my workload has slowed down a bit, mostly because of my dental situation that started when I broke a molar last week. I knew it was coming–after having it fixed over a decade ago, it was getting fragile. What I didn’t expect was the dentist informing me that I needed two root canals, three crowns, and a host of other dental work. So, this week, I went to see my oral surgeon about scheduling said dental work–which will begin on February 21st and won’t be completely over for another month or so.

Meanwhile, my sheep are keeping my spirits up with their curiosity. They like to sleep under my bedroom window, so I’m usually greeted first thing in the morning with their baah’s for breakfast.

Mocha looking into the living room at the cat + Tillie peeking through the bedroom window (almost every morning)

Wensleydale-X Lamb Raw Fleece Sample & Hog Island Knitted Beanie (from Raw Fleece)

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Yesterday, I started sampling a Wensleydale cross lamb fleece that I bought from Cactus Hill Farm (Colorado) several months ago. The fleece is 8.5 lbs, so I washed/scoured about 80 grams of it and I’ve spun 24 grams (appox 59 yds) in a 2-ply sport/dk weight yarn. The yarn is as soft as it looks in the photos and it is definitely against-the-skin soft for me.

80 grams raw fleece became 53 grams after washing/scouring. Total loss of sample: 36%

While I was working on the raw fleece, I also started knitting a beanie using some handspun Hog Island wool from raw fleece that I processed/spun during the 2021 Tour de Fleece. I really disliked everything about working with this particular breed, but at least I got a finished project out of it. The Hog Island breed is part of the Shave ’em to Save ’em project (The Livestock Conservancy).

2022 Raw Fleece to Finished Object: “Weatherwax” Icelandic wool beanie

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“Weatherwax” the Icelandic ram (from Ballyhoo Farms, KY) handspun from raw fleece–using Lopi Braided Hat pattern from Halldora J (free pattern on Ravelry).

I originally spun a sample of Weatherwax’s fleece during the 2021 Tour de Fleece, but I didn’t have quite enough to knit the beanie until I spun about 33g more that I had already drum carded. I have about seven pounds total of his fleece, and I’m thinking about what my next projects will be with this fiber. There was very little lanolin (even for an Icelandic), making this fleece the perfect candidate for spinning in the grease–if I decide to go that route in the future.

My cat Punkie–checking out Weatherwax’s fleece after it arrived

2022 Weaving: Merino/Brushed Alpaca Scarf

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Yesterday I wove a scarf using some of the yarn I bought during the 2021 North Alabama Yarn Skip. I used Queensland Perth (a yarn I had woven with before) for the weft and a brushed alpaca yarn from my stash for the warp, doubled with the Perth. This was the first time I had doubled a yarn for weaving, but luckily, it worked out great (and cut my weaving time down).

Today, I’m hoping to finish a beanie knitted with “Weatherwax” the Icelandic ram (from Ballyhoo Farms, KY) handspun from raw fleece–using Lopi Braided Hat pattern from Halldora J (free pattern on Ravelry).

2022: Knitted Shetland beanie & Woven Finn Wool Scarf projects

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This weekend, I started and completed two (small) projects, so I’m hoping that I’m back in the groove. This gets me back on track for my 52 projects a year goal now that I have three projects under my belt for 2022.

First projects of 2022: All handspun yarns; 2 from raw fleece samples

First weekend project: Handspun Finn wool leno lace scarf (woven on rigid heddle loom): this yarn was spun shortly before the 2021 Tour de Fleece from Finnish humbug roving from Hearthside Fibers. I decided on a leno lace pattern because I wasn’t sure if I would have enough yarn for a plain weave project. (I ended up with plenty of yarn left, so I may have enough to knit a beanie with the remaining yarn.)

The second project for the weekend was from a ‘raw fleece to finished yarn’ project I completed during the Tour de Fleece: “Eowyn” a Shetland ewe from Ballyhoo Farms (Bagdad, KY). I had just enough yarn to knit a beanie from the raw fleece sample I had. I still have almost two pounds of this fleece, so this will give me an idea of what I would like to do next with her fleece.

Weaving 2022: Almost there with Kakaw Designs Backstrap Loom

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As I suspected, the backstrap loom from Kakaw Designs has been much easier to work on than the one from Trama Textiles. I should say the warp has been easier…as the actual loom pieces have nothing to do with it. After a few hours, I’ve almost completed the warp that came on it. I’m looking forward to putting my own (wool) warp on the loom after I finish up this piece. I love the Ikat pattern on the yarn stripes in this warp, so I’ll probably dye some of my wool using this technique for a future warp.

(Another) Mayan Backstrap Loom arrived! (Kakaw Designs)

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My second backstrap loom arrived (pre-warped) from Kakaw Designs (Guatemala). This loom is just a little smaller than the other backstrap loom I ordered from Trama Textiles. I feel like the warp threads are better quality too. Kakaw Designs also has a blog page that has instructional videos available to anyone, so I liked that I didn’t have to wait on videos to arrive.

The Trama Textiles loom was a lot more expensive than this one as well ($100 plus free shipping), which was a bit surprising to me since I got more with this loom (a nice carrying bag was included) and I also got a $10/off coupon since I was a new customer. After the coupon and shipping ($15), I paid $65 total for the loom from Kakaw Designs. I wish I had found the loom from Kakaw first, but oh well.

1st Project of 2022: Handspun Icelandic/Balwen Welsh Mtn yarn from Raw Fleece Neck Warmer

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First project of 2022: Handspun yarn from raw fleece knitted neck warmer sample from “Olwen” Icelandic/Balwen Welsh Mountain cross from Ballyhoo Fiber Emporium (Kentucky).

I finally got up the energy to knit a small project from some of the raw fleece yarn samples I spun during last year’s Tour de Fleece. I had about 82 yards of worsted/aran weight 2-ply from this sample, so I decided to knit a small neck warmer–something I can use over the next few days now that it’s actually cold here in Alabama. (We’re even expecting snow on Sunday). I have two fleeces from Olwen, so I’m looking forward to working with them now that I’ve processed her fiber from raw to finished object. (I also have Olwen’s father’s fleeces “Akoya”–he’s pure Icelandic).

“Olwen” Icelandic/Balwen Welsh Mtn ewe from Ballyhoo Farms (Kentucky) (Photos courtesy of Madeline Rosenberg)🐑

2022: Slow Start and Mayan Backstrap Weaving

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The day after New Year’s, I fell ill with covid. A few days later, my husband followed. So, any plans I had of starting 2022 off with a bang (fiber arts-wise) was dashed. We were lucky to only have a mild case of it, so I’m grateful, but it has thrown me into a funk, creativity-wise.

I walk into my fiber room for a few seconds and then turn around and walk back out again. I just can’t focus or decide on anything to do. I’m trying to go easy on myself since I’m still recovering, but it’s hard when I’m used to being so focused and productive.

I did order a backstrap loom from Trama Textiles in Guatemala on December 30th (before I realized I was sick), and it arrived a couple of days ago. I’ve also ordered another one from Kakaw Designs (also coming from Guatemala). Both looms come pre-warped. I’ll post an update when I really get into what I’m doing. The loom from Trama was supposed to come with video tutorials, but there were none in the package (links or otherwise), so I’ve contacted them about that. I think I’ve watched every Youtube video on Mayan backstrap weaving (and backstrap weaving around the world), so I have a general idea of what I’m doing, but I paid for video tutorials, so I would like to get those from Trama.

Merry Christmas (and Happy New Year)

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I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year has been a fiber adventure for myself to say the least. I spun 20+ new breeds of wool this year, bought over 300 pounds of raw fleece from various farms all over the United States, & knitted, spun, and wove more than any other year before. 2021 was my first year to participate in the Tour de Fleece and I’m looking forward to 2022.

Let me know what goals you set each year for fiber projects! I’d love to hear about them.

Until next year!